‘Will review strategy to deal with Maoists’
SUKMA ATTACK Home minister calls it a coldblooded murder
Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday termed the deadly Maoist attack on CRPF personnel in Chattisgarh “cold blooded murder”, saying the government has accepted the challenge and it will take strong action.
At least 25 soldiers died a day ago after a nearly 100-strong patrol party was ambushed in Sukma, considered among India’s worst insurgency-hit regions.
Singh, who visited Raipur to take stock of the situation, said the government will review its strategy to combat Maoist militancy and deploy more senior officers in the region.
“It is an act of desperation. We have accepted it as a challenge. We will review the strategy and if necessary we will revisit it,” his ministry tweeted.
Speaking to reporters in Raipur, the minister called the midday ambush of CRPF personnel a “desperate attempt” to block development and said the government had taken the strike as a challenge. “The naxals (Maoists) won’t succeed…we will revise and renew our strategy at a meeting on May 8,” he said. “The Centre and state governments will together work and take action.”
He paid homage to deceased CRPF personnel at a wreath-laying ceremony at the headquarters of the 4th battalion of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force in the Mana camp area.
Chhattisgarh governor Balramji Das Tandon, chief minister Raman Singh, Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Ahir and senior state and paramilitary officials were also present at the ceremony.
The home minister said Maoists were the “biggest enemies” of tribal and poor people in the area and were against any development. “But they will not succeed in their evil designs,” he said.
Chhattisgarh CM Singh too called the attack “condemnable” and said development work as well as anti-Maoist operations will continue unabated.
››MORE REPORTS ON P7
Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to 2008 Malegaon blasts accused Pragya Singh Thakur but refused similar relief to co-accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit.
A bench of justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi said the court had found “no prima facie evidence against” the religious leader and asked her to deposit a cash surety of ₹5 lakh.
Six persons were killed in blasts close to a mosque in Maharashtra’s Malegaon on September 29, 2008. In its charge sheet filed next year, the state anti-terrorism squad named 14 people, including Thakur and Purohit.
The families of the victims sought a stay on the order so that they could appeal against it in the Supreme Court.
Thakur’s brother-in-law Bhagwan Jha said the family was delighted. “Finally, we have won. Nine years she was in jail without evidence. Now we will celebrate nationwide,” he told reporters outside the court .
CONTINUED ON P 5